Pilots Seek to Keep Guns in Airliner Cabins

(Washington Post) - Commercial airline pilots who have been trained to carry guns in the cockpit want to keep their weapons with them in the cabin when they are traveling off-duty, several pilots groups are expected to argue today before a House panel.

The Transportation Security Administration trained 44 pilots to carry guns last month as a prototype group. But before the next classes start this summer, pilots are asking Congress to change some training procedures, saying that methods of carrying a weapon involve some safety and security risks.

Pilots who are authorized to carry guns must keep the weapon in a lockbox, except when they are in the cockpit. When pilots "deadhead," or fly in the passenger cabin, TSA rules require pilots to hand the lockbox over to a baggage handler, who then puts the weapon in the cargo area in the belly of the plane.

"Anyone with at least a modicum of firearms experience knows that accidental discharges are most likely to occur when the weapon is handled, and its condition is changed," said Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said in written testimony prepared for the aviation subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "For the sake of safety, we urge Congress to correct this handling issue."

Woerth also said the lockbox, with a loaded gun inside, improperly separates a pilot from his gun and could easily get lost during baggage handling.

The TSA said it is evaluating all aspects of the program before it begins to train a new class of pilots.

"We're still in the evaluation phase," said TSA spokesman Robert Johnson. "It's only been a few weeks since we graduated the first class of pilots and sent them on their way as federal flight deck officers. We're reviewing the week of training and results of that, as well as planning, to get feedback over the next several weeks."

In the first class, 44 out of 48 pilots graduated �stry -- one that fits the mold forfrom the program, which included background checks and psychologicala regulatory nightmare. "Fractional and physical tests. The agency would not say why four pilots did not complete the training. The TSA has decided to increase funding for the program by $8 million, which could pay for the training of hundreds of additional pilots, although pilots unions expect thousands to volunteer.

Unions and organizations whose members were part of the first class lauded the program for teaching comprehensive physical defense tactics and professionalism.

But the pilots are divided on other aspects of the program. Some groups such as the Airline Pilots Security Alliance, a group lobbying for arming pilots, and the Coalition of Airline Pilots, a trade group representing several unions, want the TSA to relax its strict operating procedures and background-check standards to allow a maximum number of pilots to participate. Other groups, such as the Air Line Pilots Association, say that not every pilot should carry a gun, and they support strict standards.

Arming pilots is meant to be a deterrent against terrorists, and some pilots are unhappy that only 44 trained pilots are flying so far.

"The onus is on TSA to produce something safe and effective, and they're going to err on the side of safety," said Gary Boettcher, chairman of the Washington unit of the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing American Airlines pilots. "The program is not nearly as effective as it could be. Given time, it will become more effective."

CD, Thanks for an interesting article. Sounds a little over the top to allow 'deadheading' pilots to carry weapons in the cabin. There is too much potential for over reacting to incidents that may occur that could be resolved peacefully IMO.

Barbara